This is a classic example of Berkson's paradox [1]. If the job applications you receive have a positive correlation between on-the-job performance and competitive programming performance, and you use competitive programming performance to select who you hire, then you can very easily end up with a negative correlation among the people you actually end up hiring.
When you don't include the people you rejected in the statistic, the correlation is useless.
nicklaf, I somehow came across your comment from 9months ago about TOS and PoTs. I have been struggling with some issue for the last 4 months and doctors aren’t telling me a thing.
Would you please get in touch with me via Instagram @jesse.brill or Snapchat jessebrill55 or Facebook (search for Jesse Brill in Atlanta, GA) or via email Jesse.brill@gmail.com
I would appreciate talking to you and maybe you can help me.
When you don't include the people you rejected in the statistic, the correlation is useless.
[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkson%27s_paradox